Dozens of Omaha restaurants are being threatened with closure because they are operating without a permit, the Douglas County Health Department said Monday.

Dozens of Omaha restaurants are being threatened with closure because they are operating without a permit, the Douglas County Health Department said Monday.

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Updated: 6:18 PM CST Feb 8, 2016

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WEBVTT WITH PULLEYS AND THEY DID NOT MAKE IT OUT TODAY. BUSINESSES ARE FRUSTRATED ON HOW THE PROCESS WAS HANDLED. FOR THIS BARTENDER, IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL AT JOE'S BANANAS. ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE RESTAURANT AND BAR WAS ONE OF 165 BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE CLOSING DOWN ON MONDAY ALL DUE TO OUTSTANDING FEES. >> IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A BAD PERSON. FOR JUST A HUMAN ERROR. ALEXANDRA: SOME SAY THE THREAT OF CLOSURE IS FRUSTRATING. AS SOON AS BUSINESSES PAYING OUTSTANDING FEES, THEY ARE NO LONGER AT RISK OF SHUT DOWN. BY MONDAY, MANY HAD PAID UP. >> IT IS HURTFUL TO SMALL BUSINESSES. WE ARE HERE EVERY DAY TRYING TO EARN OUR LIVING. THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO GO ABOUT IT. ALEXANDRA: THIS SANDWICH SHOP, AND THE LUNCH RUSH IS ON. >> I COME IN HERE EVERY OTHER DAY. ALEXANDRA: WE TALKED TO THE GENERAL MANAGER AS SHE BROUGHT IN AN UPDATED PERMIT. SHE SAID SHE HAD ALREADY PAID FOR IT WHEN THE LIST CAME OUT. >> I WAS ON THE LIST, NOT BECAUSE I DIDN'T PAY THE FEE BUT BECAUSE I DID NOT PAY THE LATE FEE. IT HURTS BUSINESS. ALEXANDRA: A SIMILAR STORY HERE. THE STORE OWNER TELLING US THEY ALSO OWED A LATE FEE BUT THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT STANDING ITS GROUND SAYING THEY SENT INVOICES IN NOVEMBER AND REMINDERS LAST MONTH AND NOW IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION. >> THESE PLACES THAT DO NOT HAVE A PERMIT IN HAND FOR 2016 BY FEBRUARY 8, THEY ARE 38 DAYS OR SO PASSED DO. -- PAST DUE. ALEXANDR THESE PERMITS DO NOT HAVE TO DO WITH HEALTH INSPECTIONS. WE ALSO LEARN THAT SOME PARTS OF THE PROCESS CHANGED THIS YEAR. TYPICALLY THE INVOICES ARE SENT OUT IN MID-DECEMBER. THIS YEAR, THE INVOICES WERE

Douglas County Health Department warns restaurants about permits

Dozens of Omaha restaurants are being threatened with closure because they are operating without a permit, the Douglas County Health Department said Monday.